BOX SCORE

Reading, PA (Jan. 9, 2006) – Three freshman reserves, Tenay Gaddy (LaPlata, MD/McDonough), Michelle Lutzkanin (Hummlestown, PA/Lower Dauphin), and Allee Barnes (Blooming Glen, PA/Pennridge), tallied 11 points each to lead Alvernia College to a 78-35 win over Cedar Crest College Monday evening in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference women’s basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

            Alvernia got its first four points from the free throw line with junior Lauren Fortna (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon Catholic) making good on four attempts in the opening 1:30.  Cedar Crest kept pace with a pair of hoops from Courtney Porzio (Lehighton, PA/Lehighton) and Ashley Bechtel (Hellertown, PA/Easton) before Alvernia assumed control with an 11-2 run over the next 6:07 that put the hosts up 15-6.  Senior guard Mandy Reinhart (Pine Grove, PA/Pine Grove) led the way with five of her 10 points during the stretch and Barnes nailed her first bucket of the night to cap it.

            Cedar Crest trimmed the lead back to four, 15-11 with five straight points but the Crusaders roared back with 17 of the next 19 to take a 32-13 lead with 4:38 left in the opening half.  The first half lead grew to 22 points, 38-16 on a bucket by sophomore Emily Lancaster (Walkersville, MD/Walkersville)  with 2:16 left before Cedar Crest sophomore Caitlyn Little (Allentown, PA/Parkland) closed the first-half scoring making 1-of-2 free throws with 14 seconds left.

            Alvernia shot 44 percent from the floor in the opening frame and enjoyed a 38-17 lead at the break.  Lutzkanin, who was perfect from the floor in the first half, led Alvernia with eight points.

            Alvernia scored the first nine points of the second half to push its lead to 30 and was never threatened.  The Crusaders travel to Gwynedd-Mercy on Wednesday for a rematch of the past two PAC Championships.